The rights of the wife upon her husband

Financial rights
The wife is naturally entitled for food, clothing, housing and
otherrelated items with expenses to be born by the husband. This
natural right has been given by Allaah Almighty to the wife basedon
the following verse from the Glorious Quran )which means(:"Mothers may
breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to
complete the nursing ]period[. Upon the father is the mothers'
provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No
person is charged with more than his capacity..."]Quran 2: 233[
1. The Mahr )dowry(:This is the money to which the wife is entitled
from her husband when the marriage contract is completed or when the
marriage is consummated. It is a right which the man is obliged to pay
to the woman. Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:"And give the women
]upon marriage[ their]bridal[ gifts graciously. But if they give up
willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and
ease."]Quran 4: 4
2. Spending:It is obligatory for husbands to spend on their wives, on
the condition that the wife makes herself available to her husband. If
she refuses him or rebels, then she is not entitled to that spending.
What is meant by spending is providing what the wife needs of food and
accommodation. She has the right to these things evenif she is rich,
because Allaah Says)what means(:"…Upon the father is the mothers'
provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable…"]Quran
2: 233[
And )what means(:"Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he
whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allaah has
given him…"]Quran 65: 7[
It was narrated that 'Aa'ishahsaid: "Hind Bint )the daughter of(
'Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyaan, entered upon the Messenger of
Allaahand said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, Abu Sufyaan is a stingy man
who doesnot spend enough on me and my children, except for what I take
from his wealth without his knowledge. Is there any sin on me for
doing that?' The Messenger of Allaahsaid:'Take from his wealth on a
reasonable basis, only what is sufficient for you and your children.'"
]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
It was narrated from Jaabirthat Allaah's Messengersaid in his Farewell
Sermon:"Fear Allaah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on
the security of Allaah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful
unto you by words of Allaah. You too have rights over them, and that
they should not allow anyone to sit on your bedding ]i.e., not let
them into the house[ whom you do not like.But if they do that, you can
chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you
should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting
manner."]Muslim[
Also, the Prophetwas once asked: "What is the right of the wife unto
her husband?" Hesaid:"She is entitled for the samefood you eat, offer
her clothing whenever you buy yourself clothes, do not hit her on the
face, do not insult her and do notabandon her unless you do so)i.e.
abandon her( in the same house )under the same roof(."]Abu Daawood,
Ahmad and Ibn Maajah[
3. Accommodation:This is also one of the wife's rights, which means
that her husband should prepare for her accommodation according to his
means and ability. Allaah Almighty Says)what means(:"Lodge them ]in a
section[ of where you dwell out of your means and do not harm them in
order to oppress them…"]Quran 65: 6[
Non-financial rights
1. Fair treatment of co-wives:Oneof the rights that a wife has over
her husband is that she and her co-wives should be treated equally, if
the husband has other wives, with regard to nights spent with them,
spending and clothing.
In case of multiple wives, the husband must be fair and just to all of
them, treat them fairly in terms of expenditure, housing, time and all
other items of whichthe husband is capable. Being biased or even
inclined and preferring one wife over the other is considered one of
the major sins.
Allaah's Messengersaid:"If a man was married to two wives and is
inclined to one of them)and favored her over the other(, he will come
on the Day of Judgment with one side of his body tilted )as a
punishment for his unjust treatment(."]Imaam Ahmad[
Man, as the husband, however will not be held responsible or
accountable for things that he has no control over, such as love,
affection and self-comfort. Allaah,the Almighty stated in the Glorious
Quran )what means(:"And you will never be able to be equal ]in
feeling[ between wives, even if you should strive ]to do so[. So do
not incline completely]toward one[ and leave another hanging. And if
you amend ]your affairs[ and fear Allaah – then indeed, Allaah is ever
Forgiving and Merciful."]Quran 4: 129[
However, if a husband preferred one wife over another in terms
ofspending the night with, based on the approval and acceptance of the
other wife, then, in such a case, there is no harm. That was the case
with 'Aa'ishah and Sawdah, two of the Prophet's wiveswhen Sawdahagreed
to grant her night to 'Aa'ishahtoward the end of the life of the
Prophet.
Yet, when the Prophetbecame very ill, hecontinuously asked:"Where
shall be tomorrow )i.e., in whose house(?"All his wives agreed to let
him stay at the house of 'Aa'ishahwhere hewanted to be until his
death.]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
2. Kind treatment:The husband must have a good attitude towards his
wife and be kind to her, and offer her everything thatmay soften her
heart towards him, because Allaah Says )what means(:"…And live with
them in kindness…"]Quran 4: 19[
Also Allaah Says )what means(:"…And due to the wives is similar to
what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable..."]Quran 2:
228[
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrahsaid: "The Messenger of
Allaahsaid:'Be kind to women.'"]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Here are some examples from theProphet:
It was narrated from Zaynab Bint)the daughter of( Abi Salamah that Umm
Salamahsaid: "I got my menses when I was lying with the Prophetunder a
single woolen sheet. I slipped away and put on the clothes I usually
wore for menstruation. The Messenger of Allaahsaid to me:'Have you got
your menses?'I said, 'Yes.' Then he, salallaahu alayhi wa sallam,
called me and made me lie with him under the same
sheet..."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
It was narrated that 'Urwah Ibn Al-Zubayr said: "Aa'ishahsaid: 'By
Allaah, I saw the Messenger of Allaahstanding at the door of my
apartment when the Abyssinians were playing with their spears in the
Mosque of the Messenger of Allaah. He covered me with his cloak so
that I could watch their games, then he stood there for my sake until
I was the one who had had enough...'"]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
It was narrated from 'Aa'ishahthat the Messenger of Allaahused to pray
sitting down; hewould recite Quran when he was sitting down, then when
there were thirty or forty verses left, hewould stand up and recite
them standing up. Then hedid Rukoo' )bowing(, then Sujood
)prostration(; then hewould do likewise in the second Rak'ah )unit of
prayer(. When hehad finished his prayer, hewould look, and if I was
awake hewould talk with me, and if I was asleep hewould lie down.
]Al-Bukhaari[
3. Not harming one's wife:This is one of the basic principles of
Islam. Because harming others is forbidden in the case of strangers,
it is even more so in the case of harming one's wife.
It was narrated from 'Ubaadah Ibn As-Saamitthat the Messenger of
Allaahruled:"There should be no harming norreciprocating harm."]Ibn
Maajah[
Among the things to which the Lawgiver )Allaah Almighty( drew
attention in this matter is the prohibition of hitting or beating in a
severe manner.
It was narrated from Jaabirthat the Messenger of Allaahsaid in his
Farewell Sermon:"…But if they do that, you can chastise them but not
severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with
food and clothing in a fitting manner.")part of the above-mentioned
hadeeth( ]Muslim[